Scruffy

Scruffy by Paul Gallico. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780140026283.

Paul Gallicos Scruffy is the hilarious fictional account of the infamous apes of Gibraltar during World War Two. Based on the ancient legend that when the Rock Apes die out, the British will lose Gibraltar, so deep-rooted is this belief that in 1944 Winston Churchill actually caused a signal to be sent to Gibraltar expressing anxiety over rumours concerning the apes and directing that every effort must be made to restore their dwindling number. Out of this historical fact, the authors imagination has made a wonderfully entertaining story. The Rock Apes are in charge of one Captain Tim Bailey, and his loyal side-kick Lovejoy whose biggest problem in life is Scruffy.